"Medically Necessary" Liquids???

[kristenrice]

I have 2 bottles of OTC medication (still sealed) that we *may* need...Children's Advil and Robitussin PM...and one bottle (opened) of Zyrtec which is OTC, but prescribed to my DD11. I have them all packed in a Ziploc bag, but they are 4oz bottles. I'm wondering if they are considered "medically necessary" if they are not labeled as prescriptions. Hopefully, they won't be "necessary", but I still want to bring them just in case. Will I be OK with them in my carry on if I declare them at the security checkpoint? I read the TSA page and it only refers to "medically necessary" liquids and since these are not prescriptions, I am wondering if they will be considered "necessary". I have no problem packing them in our checked bag, if need be, since we shouldn't need them the first day anyways.

Thanks!

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

I was wondering the exact same thing! The tsa site says 3.4 oz of liquid is allowed but our children's Zyrtec is 4 oz unopened bottle. I'll probably pack it in our suitcase just in case.

 

[lazer]

I have 2 bottles of OTC medication (still sealed) that we *may* need...Children's Advil and Robitussin PM...and one bottle (opened) of Zyrtec which is OTC, but prescribed to my DD11. I have them all packed in a Ziploc bag, but they are 4oz bottles. I'm wondering if they are considered "medically necessary" if they are not labeled as prescriptions. Hopefully, they won't be "necessary", but I still want to bring them just in case. Will I be OK with them in my carry on if I declare them at the security checkpoint? I read the TSA page and it only refers to "medically necessary" liquids and since these are not prescriptions, I am wondering if they will be considered "necessary". I have no problem packing them in our checked bag, if need be, since we shouldn't need them the first day anyways. Thanks!

Wouldn't let me thru with children's Tylenol on our last flight because it was over the oz limit and we didn't have a prescription.

 

[kristenrice]

Thanks for the info...it's going into the checked bag then.

 

[lazer]

Thanks for the info...it's going into the checked bag then.

Hope you don't need it at all

 

[AJsMomma]

That's crazy! My daughter needs Benadryl for cat allergy...and of course a lady had 2 with her in the row ahead of us. And mom son needs it for a food allergy!

 

[lazer]

That's crazy! My daughter needs Benadryl for cat allergy...and of course a lady had 2 with her in the row ahead of us. And mom son needs it for a food allergy!

Have your doctor write a prescription for it! My ped has written scripts for OTC meds before.

 

[kristenrice]

My DD11 has a prescription for the Zyrtec and we have a $0 copay if it is written "dispense OTC". She doesn't usually need every day, and when she does, she gets it in the morning. We should be ok without them if the bag gets lost/delayed.

 

[JessM]

They should let you thru with all of those, at least the Zyrtec. They will need to open and test them but you should be able to go thru. I take a big bottle of contact lens solution with me all the time and I don't have a prescription for it. Sometimes they test it, sometimes they don't but they always let me thru (I fly ever other week).

I personally take it out of the ziploc bag a TSA agent can easily grab it after it goes thru the scanner and take it over to the testing area without holding anyone else up.

If the Zyrtec isn't full and is below the 3oz mark they shouldn't need to test it.

 

[tjmw2727]

OTC and Prescription medicines are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule so your 4oz bottles are fine. I would put them in a separate zip lock for convenience as you do have to declare them.

To verify (and for other TSA related questions) here is the link to the website:
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-liquids-rule

 

[Stephaniesue]

If you are concerned just call your doctor and ask for a letter or script.

My son is on a medication we have to draw up with a needle and syringe. I had my doctor fill out a letter saying we have to have them.

Personally, I wouldn't put them in a checked bag- if your baggage gets lost and you need those meds that would be a problem.

 

[Gracie09]

I've never had a problem with OTC medicine (for me or my kids). I separate them in their own bag and declare them. Once or twice they have done a hand inspection and once I asked for some prescription meds to be hand inspected and not to go through the x-ray machine. They were very expensive IVF drugs and I didn't want any issues with the x-ray machines. It was no problem.

 

[happymommy]

Wouldn't let me thru with children's Tylenol on our last flight because it was over the oz limit and we didn't have a prescription.

I would have asked for a supervisor.

Any OTC meds are allowed - I take large bottles of Benedryl, albuterol for my son's nebulizer, small inhalers, epipens, and they never ask about it (a couple of times they had to look at the travel nebulizer since it's got a battery).

I'm a traveling pharmacy! My son has food allergies, and god forbid he have a reaction at 30,000 feet.

When we went to Korea this month, their security does call for an Rx for OTC meds, so I got one. They never asked for it!

 

[CPT Tripss]

The sad reality is that "medically necessary" is total at the discretion of an Airport Security Screener with no medical training. If the initial screener refuses something you know is needed, you MUST request a supervisor.

 

[scard192]

my sister travels with EPI Pen, nebulizer, inhaler, Zrytec, Benedryl for her daughters asthma and other allergies. Everything goes together in one backpack that is her carry on and she tells them at the security checkpoint what's in there and we have never had any trouble. Prescriptions have the labels on them. nothing else is in that bag, they hand check it. as PP said, they are most interested in the nebulizer.